Judge imposes gag order

Detective Casey said she walked away from the case. By BOB JACKSONand PATRICIA MEADE VINDICATOR STAFF WRITERS YOUNGSTOWN -- A city police detective says she won't contest a gag order imposed on her to keep her from talking about two juvenile rape suspects. But Detective Sgt. Delphine Baldwin Casey said the order wasn't necessary because she's no longer working on the cases. Casey is not permitted to talk publicly about cases pending against Chaz Bunch, 16, and Brandon Moore, 15. They are suspects in the Aug. 21 kidnapping and rape of a 21-year-old Boardman woman. Donna McCollum, a Mahoning County Juvenile Court magistrate, signed the gag orders Friday morning at the request of the county prosecutor's office. Casey has 14 days to contest the order. If she does not, it will automatically go into effect. No longer involved: Casey, assigned to the department's crisis intervention unit, said the gag order is a moot point because she is no longer actively involved in the investigation. She said it was "obvious" that the magistrate would go along with whatever Prosecutor Paul Gains requested. Casey said Police Chief Richard Lewis was upset that the juveniles' names were used in the newspaper but pointed out that she didn't give the names to the press; they came from police reports. Everyone who got upset, she said, has lost sight of the fact that she didn't go to the press with the story. The original story came from police reports and televised comments Lewis made. Adult suspects: A gag order against Casey is being sought in common pleas court where cases are pending against two adult suspects. Jamar Callier and Andre Bundy pleaded innocent during their arraignment Friday before Judge Maureen A. Cronin. Callier, 21, is charged with two counts each of rape and aggravated robbery, and single counts of kidnapping and conspiracy to aggravated robbery. Judge Cronin set his bond at $800,000 cash. Bundy's bond was set at $300,000 cash. The 18-year-old is charged with two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of conspiracy to aggravated robbery. The men live together on West Hylda Avenue. Both cases are assigned to Judge R. Scott Krichbaum, who will rule on Gains' request for a gag order. A hearing date has not been set. Casey said if a gag order is granted in the adult cases, she will abide by it.